Spear-Wielding Man Shot, Killed By Sheriff’s Deputies In Canyon Country

CANYON COUNTRY (CBSLA.com) — Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man who charged at innocent people with a spear Thursday night in Canyon Country.

The shooting happened around 8:20 p.m. at Soledad Canyon Road and Shangri-La Drive.

“Patrol deputies from Santa Clarita Station were flagged down by citizens who reported a man was in the area, running in and out of traffic, holding a spear, and waving it at passersby on the road,” Dep. Crystal Hernandez said.

Deputies located the suspect standing on a center median, holding a metal spear and behaving strangely.

Witness Priscilla Garcia said the suspect appeared to be taunting deputies and tried to break her windshield.

“[I thought], ‘Oh my God, get me out of here.’ It was a scary feeling,” Garcia said. “When he did that, I looked at the cops to do something because he was not going to stop.”

The man then charged at deputies with a knife and they opened fire.

“The suspect was struck by gunfire multiple times on the upper torso,” Dep. Hernandez said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and two weapons were recovered.

The suspect was also involved in an earlier stabbing incident, officials said.

No deputies were injured.

The deputy-involved shooting was under investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.